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Editorial

Judge seeks to help hoarders

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From his bench at Franklin County Environmental Court, Judge Dan Hawkins sees a good number of people living in unimaginable conditions — but not because of a bad landlord, physical infirmity or poverty.

They are hoarders, being evicted or charged with health-code violations.

Rather than fine them or send them to jail — a temporary fix — he is pursuing a new response to get at the root of a newly recognized mental disorder. This is an excellent idea, because these defendants are their own victims, as well as putting others at risk.

“My eyes have been opened to the dangers to neighbors and first-responders,” Hawkins said, referring to cases he’s seen since being appointed in July.

Piles of hoarded clothing, trash and newspapers provide fuel for hot, explosive house fires, as well as ideal breeding conditions for infestations of rats, bed bugs, fleas and cockroaches. The weight of piles of newspapers, magazines and other “collectibles” can weaken floorboards, affecting structural safety.

All this makes it difficult and treacherous for firefighters or police officers to reach victims.

Left alone, chronic hoarders find it impossible to part with items most people would toss in the trash without a second thought: A broken pencil might someday come in useful, after all. Hoarders become emotionally paralyzed at the thought of parting with their possessions. Some shop incessantly to add to their collection.

The result is piles, sometimes to the ceiling, sometimes making rooms navigable only by narrow paths. Bathtubs, sinks and counters are covered, making hygiene or food preparation impossible.

Hoarding once was considered a form of obsessive-compulsive behavior, but this year was defined as its own distinct disorder in the update of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, considered the bible for psychiatry.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the disorder ranges from mild cluttering to excesses that endanger children, estrange family members who can’t cope with the mess, and render one’s living space uninhabitable.

Mayo Clinic says that risk factors include a stressful life event: the death of a loved one, divorce or other emotional traumas. And it notes that “genetics and upbringing are likely among the triggering factors.”

Hawkins said he is seeking the help of the Alcohol Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County to shape a plan, which likely will include other agencies.